Highlights of Cambodia

This ten-day introduction to Cambodia aims to find a good balance between city and countryside, temples and beach, old and modern history.

Highlights: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat – Sihanoukville – Phnom Penh

Day 1

Arrive Siem Reap.

You will be met on arrival and driven to your hotel.

Take this afternoon and evening off to relax and get settled for your holiday.

Dinner will be at leisure, but we will be happy to make recommendations and book at table at one of the many excellent restaurants in Siem Reap.

Day 2

Siem Reap

Start your temple exploration with a visit to Ta Phrom by private car. This temple has a jungle setting, giving the place an exotic atmosphere, particularly in the early mornings before the crowds arrive.

After Ta Phrom you will visit the temples of Bayon, Baphoun, Phimean Akas, The Royal Enclosure, Terrace of Elephants and Leper King.

In the afternoon we will return to town to have lunch at Chanrey Tree or Sugar Palm restaurant, after lunch take a break poolside before returning to the temples in the late afternoon for your visit to Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat is best in the late afternoon light after the crowds have subsided. After exploring the grandest of all the temples, we’ll take a moment to relax on the wall of the ancient city of Angkor Thom to take in sunset with some drinks.

Optional Evening Experience: Phare Ponleu Selpak Circus

The show starts at 7.30 pm and ends at 9.00pm.
This is a circus like no other and is very different to anything seen in Europe.

Phare is a Cambodian not-for-profit arts organization founded in 1994 which supports poor or at-risk children, enabling them to get an education and turn their lives around.

Day 3

Siem Reap

Full day excursion to the waterfall of Phnom Kulen, around 48km from Siem Reap. This is where the 9th century ruler, King Jayavarma II, proclaimed independence from Java. We will also visit Preah Ang Thom with its giant statue of the reclining Buddha, built in the 16th century and the Banteay Srei temple loosely translated as "Citadel of Women." which houses some of the finest and best-preserved examples of classical Khmer bas-relief.

On the return to Siem Reap there will be a stop at the Cambodia Land Mine Museum. During the dark days of the Khmer Rouge, a child soldier named Aki Ra was forced to lay thousands of mines. Now an adult, he has devoted his life to clearing them (over 50,000 to date). The facility he runs is part museum but also an orphanage and school.

The tour finishes with the sunset at Pre Rup Temple.

Day 4

Siem Reap-

Free morning; in the early afternoon you will be met at your hotel and driven to Sihanoukville, for a few days rest and relaxation on the beach.

Days 5-7

Sihanoukville

During your stay here we recommend a boat trip to Ream National Park which is home to a number of rare birds and animals. We also suggest visits to Bamboo Island, Chalus Island and Ta Kiev Island, fishing trips with local fishermen.

Day 8

Sihanoukville – Phnom Penh

Departure transfer from Sihanoukville for the four hour journey to Phnom Penh.

Lunch excursion by tuktuk to visit the uplifting and delicious Friends Restaurant. Friends is an project run by Mith Samlanh an NGO dedicated to providing training and support to street children.

In the afternoon visit the sobering Toul Sleng Museum, the site of what was the notorious S-21 security prison under Pol Pot.

After this moving experience, head to the riverside for a sunset cocktail cruise on the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers.

Day 9

Phnom Penh

A walking tour of the city in the morning to take in Cambodia's diverse cuisine to learn about traditional Khmer food and to take in the difference architectural influences in the capital.

In afternoon you have the option to explore the bustling area in front of the Royal Palace and National Museum where you can usually find monks relaxing and families enjoying open public spaces. You may like to join in a local aerobics class.

If you would like to go to a show in the evening, please let us know.

Day 10

Depart Phnom Penh

Departure transfer to the airport in time to check in for your flight home.

The above sample Cambodia holiday can be varied in any way you choose to suit your exact requirements so give us a call now on 01932 424252 to discuss any modifications.

Hotels in Cambodia

Cambodia has a wide range of types & styles of hotels, at a variety of price-points to suit all budgets. Please chat to one of our Travel Consultants to get informed advice as to which hotels they would suggest for your tailor-made Cambodia holiday.

The tours, excursions & activities mentioned in the above sample Cambodia holiday are just a selection of what is available in each location. The programme can be adjusted to fit your particular requirements for this holiday; please liaise with your Travel Consultant to confirm what other activities are available and what you would like to include in your tailor-made Cambodia holiday.

Duration of your Cambodia Holiday

If you like the broad sweep of the above sample Cambodia holiday but either have fewer days to spend, or wish to extend it in any way, please ask your Travel Consultant for ideas on how to shorten or lengthen the holiday, or how to reorganise the itinerary.

No-Obligation Quote

We would be delighted to email you a no-obligation, fully-detailed itinerary & quote, containing images of the hotels we suggest for your tailor-made Cambodia holiday along with a link to the hotel’s website, plus details of any included tours & excursions. The quote will clearly state what is, and what is not included in the quoted price. If you thereafter wish to make any changes to the initial itinerary – be it an alternative hotel, different activities, a different duration in any location etc. – that’s not a problem and we will continue to work with you to adjust the programme until it exactly matches what you’re looking for from your tailor-made Cambodia holiday.